Link to the PRD: Shadow Conjuration
My question is on the AC of the summoned shadow monster: is the AC only nerfed if the enemy makes their will save? Or is always nerfed?
Here's some relevant bits of text:
PRD wrote:
Regardless of the result of the save to disbelieve, an affected creature is also allowed any save that the spell being simulated allows, but the save DC is set according to shadow conjuration's level (4th) rather than the spell's normal level.
^ That's in the 3rd paragraph and it is explicit about saving throws - I've read elsewhere that this applies to the summoned monster's special abilities/spells/SLAs. Not sure if that is correct via RAW - I would think the text applies to any saving throws the monster can make the enemy make.
The 4th paragraph covers HP, attacks, and AC bonuses:
PRD wrote:
A shadow creature has one-fifth the hit points of a normal creature of its kind (regardless of whether it's recognized as shadowy). It deals normal damage and has all normal abilities and weaknesses. Against a creature that recognizes it as a shadow creature, however, the shadow creature's damage is one-fifth (20%) normal, and all special abilities that do not deal lethal damage are only 20% likely to work. (Roll for each use and each affected character separately.) Furthermore, the shadow creature's AC bonuses are just one-fifth as large.
^ again, HP is explicit that it doesn't matter if the enemy made their save. Damage is explicit on that it does full damage if they haven't made their save, and only 20% if they have. But AC is not explicit in either direction.
So is the summoned monster have it's full AC against creatures that have not made the save? Or is it nerfed regardless of whether the enemy made the save?
